Meanwhile, following the historic trend, the list of
team-swapping duds was exhaustive. Even
Kevin Kolb, last offseason’s most-coveted prize, couldn’t work his way up to
fantasy respectability despite landing his first starting job.

Once again, the number of fantasy-relevant players changing
zip codes this season is extensive.I
counted more than 70, and more are likely to come.

Who will stick their landings?Who will fall flat on their tushes?Let’s examine the most significant offseason
moves of 2012, broken down by the projected impact on each player’s fantasy
value.

MOVIN’ ON UP – Look for improved production from
these seven.

Peyton Manning, QB, Broncos.His first completion will be an improvement
over the lost season of 2011.Still, the
future Hall of Famer has yet to take a hit to test his surgically repaired
neck.He is the ultimate high-risk,
high-upside player, for the Broncos and his fantasy owners.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Bengals – The Law Firm
moved his practice out of New England, where he was perennially underutilized,
to Cincinnati, where he is expected to become the lead prosecutor of the
Bengals’ ground attack.That should lead
to more week-to-week consistency and significant upside.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Redskins – He scored all six of
his touchdowns in just three games last season.If Garcon seizes his presumed role as Robert Griffin’s favorite target,
he’ll trade his boom-or-bust track record for more reliable production.

Brandon Lloyd, WR, Patriots – What better place than
New England to prove his league-leading 2010 season wasn’t a fluke?But Lloyd can only soar so high with Wes
Welker and those pesky tight ends competing for touches.He has nice upside, but don’t expect
miracles.

Robert Meachem, WR, Chargers – He gets an upgrade from
role player to featured starter.Meachem
lacks Vincent Jackson’s dominating talent, but he should be a steady
contributor most weeks.

Randy Moss, WR, 49ers – Perhaps the biggest wild card
of them all, Moss seems committed to reviving his career in San Francisco after
flaming out in 2010.He’s been turning
heads all offseason, and he’ll surge up draft boards should he perform well in
the preseason.

Jacob Tamme, TE, Broncos – Manning made Tamme
fantasy-relevant as a Colt in 2010, and should do the same in Denver.

COMIN’ BACK DOWN – These players will be
hard-pressed to match last year’s results.

Mike Tolbert, RB, Panthers – We loved him when he
filled in for the oft-injured Ryan Mathews, but Tolbert’s talents will be
wasted behind two accomplished backs and a TD-poaching quarterback in Carolina.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, 49ers – As long as Frank Gore is
healthy, Jacobs won’t have much value.He may steal a goal-line plunge or two, but that’s about it.

Vincent Jackson, WR, Buccaneers – A Top 10 finish is
hard to envision for Jackson in his first year playing catch with Josh Freeman.

Laurent Robinson, WR, Jaguars – If you think he’ll come anywhere close
to his 11-touchdown season of 2011, I’ve got some Dunder Mifflin stock I’d like
to sell you.

Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, Patriots – If you were a
free-agent tight end in the witness protection program, there’d be no better
landing spot than New England.

CALL IT A WASH – For better or worse, these
players should post comparable results to last season.

Matt Flynn, QB, Seahawks – No longer relegated to
backing up Aaron Rodgers, Flynn was paid handsomely to cure Seattle’s aerial
woes.Hard to believe he won’t wrest the
starting job from Tarvaris Jackson; but fantasy relevance is still likely out
of reach.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Chiefs – The 2011 Fantasy Bust of
the Year is determined to rebound, but must do so as Jamaal Charles’
understudy.

Michael Bush, RB, Bears – Unfortunately for Bush, Matt Forte is not as
injury-prone as Darren McFadden.He’ll
continue to be a valuable handcuff, at best.

Brandon Marshall, WR, Bears – Marshall has never
ranked higher than ninth among fantasy wideouts, even during his glory days
with Jay Cutler in Denver.After quietly
ranking 13th in Miami in 2011, don’t over-estimate his upside.

Chad Johnson, WR, Dolphins – No longer numerically
monikered, Johnson squandered his opportunity with Tom Brady in 2011.Expect him to underwhelm his way to
retirement in his hometown.

Mario Manningham, WR, 49ers – As in New York, he’ll
have a few shining moments.Just not
enough of them to write home about.

Josh Morgan, WR, Redskins – The former disappointing
49er is now gearing up to disappoint Redskins fans.

Welcome home, Fools!

2011 and 2010 Football Writer of the Year

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About the Chief Fool

Ladd Biro was named 2010 "Football Writer of the Year" by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association -- the most prestigious recognition in the biz. In 2011, he won again -- the only two-time winner in the FSWA's history. He also won for "Best Humor Column of 2011," across all sports. He was a finalist for the FFWOY Award again in 2013 and 2014, but was denied the threepeat in the kind of bribery/shakedown/ payola scandal more commonly associated with FIFA. Ladd's nationally syndicated columns have appeared in more than 20 publications -- including the Dallas Morning News, San Francisco Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer, Chicago Sun-Times and Sporting News magazine -- since 2003. Since 2009, all his written fantasy content can be found on the Fantasy Fools blog.